YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Things got heated in court Wednesday when a kidnapping and assault suspect started screaming about why he may have committed the crime he is accused of.

Christopher Hyler appeared in court on kidnapping, felonious assault, retaliation, assault, escape and resisting arrest charges. The Salem man told the court, “Jesus told me to get the demons out of her.”

Hyler is accused of beating his girlfriend so badly that she couldn’t see.

Jackson Township Police said Hyler’s girlfriend called them Tuesday, saying Hyler had beaten her at a Jackson Township motel.

Officers attempted to arrest Hyler and reported that he tried to escape by biting one of the officers.

Hyler appeared in Columbiana County Municipal Court on Tuesday for a pretrial on two prior assault charges involving the same victim.

Those were dismissed when the woman, who was in the hospital with injuries she said was from Hyler’s assault, didn’t show up in court.